Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Big offense against New Mexico Highlands and an improbable comeback win over Fort Lewis got Colorado School of Mines off to the right start in their RMAC pod in Durango on Saturday.

Mines routed Highlands 12-4 in six innings to start the day, then scored six runs – all with two outs – in the seventh innings to beat Fort Lewis 7-3 in the final game of the day to even their RMAC record at 9-9.

Sonoma Toot starred at the plate for Mines, driving in five runs in a 5-for-6 day, while she and Kara Jones each homered. Maddie Rogers and Hallie Smith picked up wins in the circle for Mines.

GAME 1 – Mines 12, New Mexico Highlands 4 (6 inn.)
The Orediggers scored in all but one inning as they trounced New Mexico Highlands 12-4 in a six-inning run-rule game.

Toot had three RBI in the game, and Dani Valerio and Loren Dempsey added a pair each. Valerio went 3-for-4 at the dish to lead Mines.

Toot's bases-loaded walk in the first got Mines on the board before the Orediggers broke out for four in the second. Paige Noehring doubled in Pua Fujinaga to start the rally before Dani Valerio drove in Brielle Asato and Noehring scored on a passed ball. Boston Ludlow grounded in Valerio to make it 5-0.

Toot's solo homer in the third extended the lead to 6-0, but Highlands pulled back two runs in the fifth to keep them alive. Mines shut the door in the fifth with Toot's double to the gap and Dempsey's two-run single later in the inning. Highlands had two more in the sixth but Mines walked off in the bottom half when Valerio, Kara Jones, and Leiker had RBI base hits to establish the eight-run lead.

Maddie Rogers improved to 4-8, striking out five with four earned off eight hits in the complete-game win. Madison Davis allowed only five earned on 12 runs in the loss as Mines racked up 13 hits.

GAME 2 – Mines 7, Fort Lewis 3
Down to their final out of the game, Mines stunned Fort Lewis with six runs in a last-gasp rally to take their second game of the day 7-3.

Toot had another big game, going 3-for-4 and driving in two runs. Kara Jones smacked her first career home run in the fourth, and Ludlow and Leiker had two-RBI games.

Mines trailed 3-1 in the seventh and with their first two batters generating outs, it appeared all but over for the Orediggers. But Asato singled up the middle to start something, and consecutive singles from Noehring and Valerio loaded the bases to set up Ludlow's game-tying two-run single.

That was enough to give started Olivia Goldberg the hook, but Mines wasn't content with forcing extra innings. Against reliever Victoria Johnson, Jones walked to reload the bases before Toot put the Orediggers ahead with a two-run single to right and Leiker's ground-rule double scored two more. Rachel Foos came on to get the final out, but the Skyhawks couldn't generate anything in the bottom half as Hallie Smith induced two ground outs and a strikeout to end the game.

Smith (7-6) allowed three earned and struck out four to earn the win. Goldberg took the loss allowing five earned but striking out seven.

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Mines will play Highlands and Fort Lewis again on Sunday to end the pod.